AWWA PATH50786

AWWA PATH50786 Comparison of Filtration Methods for Primary Recovery of Cryptosporidium parvum From Water
Conference Proceeding by American Water Works Association, 08/29/1999

Simmons, Otto D., III;Juliano, Jonathan J.;Heaney, Christopher D.;Francy, Donna S.;Schaefer, Frank W., III;Sobsey, Mark D.

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The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is widespread in drinking water and has caused waterborne disease outbreaks. To improve monitoring, the US Environmental Protection Agency developed Method 1622 for isolation and detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in water. Method 1622 is performance-based and involves filtration, concentration, immunomagnetic separation (IMS), antibody (FA) and counter (DAPI) staining, and microscopic evaluation. The capsule filter system currently recommended for Method 1622 was compared to two other filtration systems, a membrane filter disk and a hollow fiber ultrafilter, for primary concentration of C. parvum oocysts in seeded reagent water and untreated environmental waters. Samples were otherwise processed according to Method 1622. C. parvum oocysts were recovered from environmental waters using the approved filter of Method 1622 but recoveries were lower and more variable than from reagent grade water. The disposable, hollow fiber ultrafilter recovered C.parvum oocysts more reliably and efficiently than the approved filter in the environmental waters tested. Includes 22 references, tables.